I go through phases of what I like to eat for breakfast. I went months drinking my peanut butter carrot smoothie. I then went weeks eating oatmeal with cashew butter and berries. In the current moment, I am loving GRANOLA! I just find it so fun to make. It is an easy snack for being "on the go" or to add to some yogurt.
I started with a granola recipe from Cookie + Kate a few months ago. She is a great blogger with some really creative twists on fresh, whole food recipes! She has a ton of amazing recipes, including lots of granola variations. I modeled my recipe after her orange almond granola recipe, with a few changes.
I find homemade granola to be crunchier and fresher than those bought at the grocery store. Yes, making it from scratch does take more time and effort than just picking up a bag in the cereal isle. But you can customize it to your likings, and you might even have all of the ingredients in your pantry right now.
It is so fun to experiment with different flavors. I like fruity granola, so this recipe contains orange zest! My sister, on the other hand, likes chocolate and coconut. So I made her a version with coconut flakes and Nestle espresso chips. There are so many ways to mix it up!
How should I eat my granola?
The possibilities are endless.
Eat it with your hands as a snack by leaving the chunks larger when you break it apart.
Put it on some Greek yogurt with some berries.
Top it off on your smoothie bowl. Last week, I made a smoothie bowl with kale, frozen banana, frozen peaches, mangos, and strawberries. It was delicious!!
Add it to your cereal or overnight oats.
Put it in some milk with fresh berries and coconut chips.
The last way to serve it is my personal favorite at the moment. I use unsweetened vanilla almond milk, raspberries, blueberries, and toasted coconut chips. It is so refreshing!
Below is the recipe. Let me know if you try it out or would like me to post a different version to satisfy your taste buds. Enjoy!
Orange Almond Granola
Ingredients:
Zest of one large orange
1 tablespoon coconut sugar*
2 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Juice of 1/2 large orange
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup honey**
1/4 cup crushed raw almonds***
* I used coconut sugar in this recipe because I have been trying to use it up from my pantry. Coconut sugar is much less sweet than granulated white sugar. Coconut sugar is also more expensive. Either work well but give a very different taste.
** Maple syrup can also be used instead of honey. Use what you have!
*** If using already toasted almonds, mix them in after taking the granola out of the oven and let the granola cool completely afterwards. Toasting twice will burn the almonds and affect the flavor of the granola. Trust me, I learned from experience!
Directions:
In a small bowl , zest one large orange. Combine zest with coconut sugar and mix with hands to press sugar into zest.
In a large bowl, combine oats, almonds, cinnamon, and salt. Add zest mixture. Stir.
Add orange juice, canola oil, and honey to the large bowl. Mix thoroughly.
Place wet mixture on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Stir halfway through to prevent edges from burning.
Allow to completely cool before breaking apart.
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